Kian v. Florida

Kian v. Florida is a SCOTUS in the Classroom case. The argument date has not yet been determined.

In this case, the Supreme Court will consider whether convicting a defendant of felonies by a six-person jury violates the Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury. In Williams v. Florida (1970), the Supreme Court ruled that six-person juries do not violate the Sixth Amendment. The petitioner is asking the Court to overrule this precedent and require 12-person juries in serious criminal cases.

Each term Street Law selects the most classroom-relevant, student-friendly cases as our SCOTUS in the Classroom cases. Teachers are encouraged to conduct moot courts the same week the case is argued, giving students the opportunity to follow discussion and analysis in the news and listen to or read a transcript of the actual oral arguments.

Case Issue:

Was Kian deprived of his right, under the Sixth and 14th Amendments, to a trial by an impartial jury?

Case Briefs:

• Brief of Petitioner: Kian
• Brief of Respondent: Florida

Oral Argument:

• Audio recording and transcript of the oral argument from the Supreme Court (to be posted after oral argument)

Decision:

• Link to the opinion of the Court (to be posted after the decision is announced)

News Articles/Videos:

• SCOTUSblog by Anastasia Boden, “12 angry men – or six?,” (August 10, 2026)
• The Florida Bar by Jim Ash, “Both sides weigh in on 6-member jury challenge,” (August 19, 2026) 
• Associated Press by Mark Sherman, “Supreme Court will decide whether criminal cases must have 12 jurors, in Florida case,” (June 15, 2026) 
• MyPandhandle.com/WMBB News 13 by Grace Velez, “Supreme Court to rule on Florida’s six-person jury system,” (June 19, 2026) 

How to Conduct a Moot Court or a Mini-Moot Court: 

• Classroom Guide to Moot Courts 
• Mini-Moot Court Demonstration Video